SHOP EARLY!!!!!
If you can start in Jan during the after Christmas sales, that's best.

And don't buy something just to give something.  Buy things that the other person can really use or actually wants.  Otherwise, go with something edible and homemade is always best.

We make our Christmas cards and give them as gifts to lots of family.  I say we, but I mean me.  I usually paint them, write a verse in them, and then write a note to the family.  They go over better than any gifts.

See, we never bought anything with a label or name brand for the boys.  Mostly we bought "thinking toys" like lincoln logs and legos and knex that we could add to for birthdays and Christmas.

Also, we set a budget before they got old enough for buying for.  $25 for each year of their lives.  So my nine year old will be $225 this year.  And we give three gifts each (plus stocking stuffers).  Two medium and one large - if the money works out that way.  Sometimes it's a couple of small and one large.